WHY?????

...is the most common question people ask me. At least once a day, someone asks me, “Why are you still doing this?” or “Why do you think you need to lose weight?” or “Why are you jumping on the New Year weight loss band wagon?” Though I really do not need to justify my habits to anyone, my answer is simple- to help kick off my healthy eating habits and to help maintain a healthy lifestyle.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 35.7% of U.S. adults are obese, that is 1/3 of the U.S. adult population. Obesity can lead to health conditions such as heart problems, diabetes, and certain cancers, all of which can rack up pretty intense medical costs. Last year I suffered from some intestinal inflammation that required several hospital visits. The doctors put me on a restricted diet and thus my first introduction to a gluten free life style. I have since then lost quite a bit of weight and found healthy alternatives. I don’t ever want to have to go through that again nor do I want to fall into an unhealthy percentage- help maintain a healthy lifestyle.

My diet before usually consisted of copious amounts of breads, cheeses, cured meats, ice cream and pretty much anything I could eat. So- to help kick off my healthy eating habits- I need to start eating foods that make me feel more healthy and energetic rather than sluggish and heavy. Yes, moderation is always the key; however, if you have little self-control… They say it takes two weeks for something to become a habit and after 30 days it becomes part of your routine.

Kick-start, maintain, routine. 

Success Food for Your Whole30

Here are some recipes that I have been using. Some of them I've found through several sites and Pinterest and some I have created myself. Enjoy and please feel free to post other recipes for me to try out.

*optional ingredient

Coconut Banana Pancakes
1 ripe banana
1 egg
1/8 c coconut flour (give or take)
1/8 c coconut milk (give or take)
pinch of salt
splash of vanilla extract*
Yield 6 small cakes (or two large ones as pictured below)

Mash banana and then add the egg. Add the flour, salt and milk and/or extract. Mix until desired consistency. Medium heat in a nonstick pan and I use coconut oil. Goes really well with steak and eggs!

My favorite guy loves my Sweet Potato Hash
2 sweet potatoes (cubed or hashed)
4 slices grass fed bacon sliced into small strips
1/2 jalapeno
1/4 diced onion
bunch of kale chopped
1 avocado sliced
cilantro

Medium heat in a non stick pan and fry up the bacon, remove and set aside. If you need more oil add some extra virgin olive oil. Add sweet potatoes. When those are cooked add onion, jalapeno and kale. At the end add the bacon. Plate it up and top it off with the avocado and cilantro. Can top off with fresh pico de gallo.

This recipe can of course be altered to suit your needs and wants! We've had it as a dinner has with burgers.

Speaking of burgers...they are my favorite. Particularly cheeseburgers. They're my weakness. So how do I kick these cravings? Lettuce wraps and tons of flavor. Butter lettuce or even kale for that wrap and I've started using lots of different toppings. Sun dried tomatoes, grilled onions and mushrooms, crispy kale, the options are endless. I've also just found a crunchy plantains recipe that you can use as "buns" or taco "shells". I haven't tried it yet but you all will be the first to know the outcome!

My new go to meal is also spaghetti squash with my mom's homemade pesto or some tomato sauce. Easy...cut the squash in half and scoop out seeds, olive oil, salt and pepper. Roast in the oven at 400 for 30 minutes. Use a fork to scoop out the "noodles" and serve to your desire!

I would love to see what you have created and to try them out too! Cheers to a successful Whole30!

Keto Flu

One of the down sides to starting a low carb eating style is the "keto flu" also known as the "induction flu". This usually happens during the first few days where your body is adapting to burn ketones (an organic compound that comes from fats that are broken down for energy) instead of glucose. Some of the symptoms are typically headaches, nausea, upset stomach, lack of mental clarity, fatigue- all of which I have been suffering from. Essentially this is the transition period where your body is finding or creating new enzymes to burn the fatty cells instead of the carbs that you had been consuming. You're coming off of an addiction from carbs!

The most important thing that you should be doing every day anyway is to hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Lots of water intake and once your body starts getting rid of the excess water weight it's important to replenish your electrolytes (sodium, magnesium and potassium). Reading through so many websites and articles I have found so many different ways to speed up the transition and to help with the cravings.

Some suggestions for a happy keto experience that I have found:
- Supplement with 1 teaspoon of salt per day
- Gradually reduce carbs
- Eat chicken or beef broth or soups
- Kick it up on the fat intake
- Take vitamins and supplements
- Eat lots of eggs

On the bright side, I sleep through the night and am really eating better. And if these little tricks help to speed up the transition to kick the flu, then I'll try them! Day 4 down!

The Whole30

A few months ago my friend and colleague, Lauren gave me a book to read to help me kick start my desire to eat more healthy. It Starts With Food: Discover the Whole30 and Change Your Life in Unexpected Ways by Dallas and Melissa Hartwig. I will admit I breezed through the first half of the book not really retaining anything and as I thought more about the science of food and how it reacts with our bodies, I realized that this book is packed full of information to help me be more healthy and maintain. And it's all in a language I can understand with examples and facts to support.

To back up, last year I had massive stomach pains and the doctors and specialists could not figure out what was wrong. Instead of undergoing multiple tests and invasive procedures they moved me to a gluten free diet and then a restricted diet hoping that would pin point the problem. After I started feeling better, I attempted to move back to gluten and was I surprised how sick all of my favorite foods made me. Of course everything in moderation but a slice of toast or a beer made my stomach turn. I started to really believe that my body honestly did not really like all the crappy food I was eating. So, I began to look into different changes to my diet.

Today marks the first day of my Whole30 program. No legumes, dairy, processed foods, sugars, alcohol or grains for 30 days. After the 30 days there is a 10 reintroduction of these foods to find out what really effects my system. I have taken my before shots to see how my new eating habits effect my lifestyle.

Take a look what I'll be up to for the next few weeks The Whole30. I have a great support system in place and a pair of people who would like to accomplish this program with me. Get ready for some healthy recipes and restful nights!

Fish Sauce

What's your first thought?

For me, the key ingredient in one of my favorite dishes that my mom used to cook when I was a kid-pos pas. So naturally I think of Asian food. When you walk into this corner restaurant that is totally not the impression I got from the name.

My first thought was family style country food. Homey, comfy, very laid back. I was not disappointed but was reminded that it really is Asian cuisine when I took a glance at the menu. My nerdy friend and I took a seat at the small bar at the end of the restaurant. The decor is simple and from what Will, our Bay Area bartender, told us- all handmade by Ben, the owner. It is a completely family run business on its way to success.

Since we were the only ones there right at opening, Will took the time to chat and fill us in with his story about how he came to Portland and how he ended up here at Fish Sauce mixing up some pretty mean drinks. I'd tell you but you could go in and ask him yourself too. I took on the Short Round, for a short round, and the daily punch- better than Hamburger Mary's punch since I didn't wake up with a raging headache in the middle of the night and really there is no comparison. Will seems like a guy who loves what he does. He took quality time to make each drink and still took the time to chop it up with us and the new wave of guests that came in.

Opening time also meant happy hour! My favorite hour of the day. An already inexpensive menu with an even more inexpensive happy hour menu with filling and delicious home cooked food. And from what I understand, it's Ben's mother cooking- you can't get more homemade than that. As an owner Ben is very friendly and takes the time to stop and say hello to every guest- I love these kinds of places. And even if starting and running your own place takes up most of your time and away from sleep, with Ben you could never tell.

The food is simple, delicious, and filling. As usual I over ate but left happy. I broke down and got some Cha Gio (crispy rolls) which tasted surprisingly like the lumpia that my mom and I make at home. I took down some Bo Cuon (beef rolls) filled with Walla Walla onions and carrots and the lettuce wraps with the recommended chicken and mushroom filling. Delicious. My nerdy friend got the pho and it could have fed two! None of the items that we picked off the menu, including drinks exceeded $7- where else can you find a deal like that?

By the time we left, it felt like we had made some new friends and were sufficiently full and filled with good booze. To put it simply, I can't wait to head back for more from Fish Sauce. And best yet, it supports local business and what your tummy wants.

Tip for the Day: Sometimes recreating childhood meals yourself isn't the same. But sometimes someone else can make it or you might need to head home for that yummy goodness and home felt feeling. Mom- the next time I come home I want pos pas please :)

A Pinteresting Fool

Yes, I used it as a verb. For more delicious finds follow me on the ever growing Pinterest. I have found tons of workouts, healthy foods and pretty much money saving tips and can dos.

Whiskey, smoke, BBQ...

Well who could ask for more? A sister restaurant to my ever favorite Casa del Matador and the Kickin' Boot up in Seattle, up on the ever so popular NW 23rd. Southland Whiskey gives wafts of smoked meats and spicy sauces from blocks away. I waited months for this place to open.

The interior is decorated with the unfurnished wood panels and vintage handles and fixtures in the bathrooms. The bar and tables are thick panels of wood, some with huge benches and tall metal stools. At night it's a bit dark but the large sliding windows let in tons of natural light to see all of the neat interiors. The bar is a gem on its own. Hundreds of bottles line the shelves behind the bar with a plethora of lights behind them. It's a whiskey lovers heaven.

The bartenders are all personal and are willing to please with different mixtures and friendly conversation. A few servers really go above and beyond and seem to really enjoy their work. There are few places that I can go and can have a conversation with the general manager. Southland is one of these places.

The food is always delicious. I have gone several times and have only ever had one complaint. Let's start with the awesome: I go back specifically for their onion rings. They're huge, crispy nicely seasoned rings that you could eat as a meal in itself. It's served with the house barbecue sauce but I usually get it with the chipotle ranch. Like I said- one of my favorites and I've yet to find anyone who thinks otherwise. Their fork tender and smokey. The catfish po-boy is tasty even the next day for lunch (I couldn't finish the whole thing so had to bring it home). The mac n cheese has four gooey, thick cheeses and a side itself could be its own meal. 

My one complaint? I had the wings- full of flavor and soaked in sauce (yum yum!) but they were a little on the cold side. When I asked about why they were not very hot, I was told that they were trying to not over cook them. Fair enough, but I'll take crispy and over cooked for wings. And in all honesty, I've asked other people who have had the wings and they were nice and hot. So maybe it was a slip in the kitchen. In general there is no sexy way of eating wings and these are definitely no exception making them all the more delicious I am sure for my next time. But regardless of one slightly disappointing experience, it has not deterred me from returning- little will truth be told.

Southland is a place that everyone should try at least once. I could go on and on but you should come check it out for yourself...

Tip for the Day: Everyone always claim to be the best. "The Best Cup of Joe", "The Best BBQ in the South", "The Best blah blah"- you'll never know the best unless you try it for yourself. So eat up buttercup, life's too short to not enjoy the best!

http://www.southlandwhiskeykitchen.com/